Dune Blowout

Dune Blowout

An unusually warm January day! The perfect day for a trip to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

This particular dune continues to see a lot of erosion, not only from the wind, and the waves of Lake Michigan, but from the small stream that runs at its foot. Marram Grass refuses to grow (or, it's not being allowed) on the windward side of the dune. The sand doesn't stay in place long enough for the grass to take hold, and if it does begin to grow, the stream undermines the foot of the dune causing a collapse and mini landslide, dragging the grass down to the lake.

After a couple of days of 40 and 50 degree weather, ice remained in some shaded blowouts along the stream.

A few hours later, temperatures dropped and sleet began to fall, reminding us that winter was still in control.

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